Old Brighton claim back-to-back Holmesglen Under 19 Premier flags despite defiant St Kevin’s challenge

Old Brighton has successfully defended its throne in Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s against the same challenger from its previous triumph, under lights at Elsternwick Park on Saturday.

It had been evident all year that the Tonners and St Kevin’s were the two teams to beat in 2025, and when both sides stood facing one another, arm-in-arm for the national anthem, not many would have opposed either club’s credentials for the deciding affair.

Old Brighton entered the contest as favourites, having never lost to the SKOBS in the pair’s three previous encounters, including a statement 32-point qualifying final win, while St Kevin’s was coming off a draining extra-time preliminary final thriller.

All the odds stacked in the Tonners’ favour, and continued to do so in the early going.

As the ball was thrown aloft into the twilight sky at Elsternwick Park, Old Brighton made its early charge, tallying the opening two goals.

Amongst the scoreboard threat, St Kevin’s had issues aplenty – Nick Hulls was knocked out and out of the game with concussion, while Ben Cantwell was taken to hospital for a spleen injury. So bad was the impact injury that Cantwell spent the night in ICU.

A controversial red card was additionally handed to St Kevin’s’ Dom Portelli, leaving the green, blue and gold down to 17 men for a quarter, and pressing their backs against the wall.

But what SKOB have done so often this year is show resilience when the going gets tough.

Evidenced last week in its ability to stop a surging Uni Blues outfit from pinching victory in extra-time, St Kevin’s, despite losing those three players in the first term, stuck fat as a group and continued to hunt the football with unwavering determination.

SKOB had responded with two goals back prior to the red card, and by the second quarter with one less on the field, they had stolen the lead from the red and blue – albeit not for long.

Two late goals in red time for Old Brighton handed them a 10-point advantage at the main break, 5.2 (32) to 3.4 (22).

Another back-and-forth quarter resumed after halftime, with Old Brighton looking to take the game by the scruff of the neck from the siren, converting the first major within two and a half minutes.

However, St Kevin’s gave the Tonners another run for their money, booting three goals on the trot to claim a slim one-point advantage, although once again Old Brighton and their fresher legs closed out the quarter stronger and kicked two goals back-to-back to return the margin out to 11 at three-quarter-time.

The fourth quarter became a dog fight as St Kevin’s’ leaders attempted to will their side over the line, but fatigue had set in.

Old Brighton found the sealer a third of the way through the last, and it would be the final goal of the game as three behinds between the pair of clubs followed.

Then, elation, as the final siren rung.

The Tonners were kings of the under-19s mountain again.

Old Brighton coach Travis O’Donohue was rapt to have brought his side back to the pinnacle of success after the club claimed the silverware in 2024.

“Just as we expected, it was a really tough contest all game,” O’Donohue said.

“St Kevin’s have been the benchmark all year and we knew they’d be really physical and make us earn every possession.

“We tried to get the ball out in space and make it a running game, knowing they’d had a hard prelim.

“To St Kevin’s credit, it took us all night to wear them down.

“I’m incredibly proud of the players, they’ve worked so hard for this and it’s satisfying to see them get reward after a long season.”

While understandably gutted by consecutive runner-up results, St Kevin’s coach Paul Greenham was full of praise for O’Donohue, with the pair working closely together throughout the season despite their rival colours.

The two clubs have shared incredible moments of sportsmanship throughout the season, and the grand final display only rubberstamped the admiration and respect between the sides.

“Travis and myself have a really strong relationship, we never knew each other before season 2025 however we spoke regularly during the course of the year about all matters, football, life, and in particular, coaching 19-year-olds,” Greenham said.

“We are very similar, we plan and install belief in the group for them to execute – tonight’s game was no different.

“Both of us had a plan, and I couldn’t have asked any more of our group in their endeavours to buy in and play the way which I believed gave us the best shot at victory.

“In the end though, Old Brighton were just a little more polished on the outside… the 18-point margin is probably fitting.

“Personally, I couldn’t be more proud of all my boys.”

As the moon rose to its peak across Elsternwick Park, the cup was hoisted by O’Donohue and skipper George Hill, as Andrew Langworthy celebrated with two medallions around his neck after earning best-on-ground honours for a scintillating first half.

Tonners’ Luca Robinson starred in the forward line too with five goals, while Benjamin Palmer of St Kevin’s played his part with four goals on the night.

The Holmesglen Under 19 Premier season has delivered again, now with the foundations of a Tonners dynasty has been put in place – and its latest silverware is no doubt worth its weight in gold.